<h2>Name</h2>
<p>
In verse 10 of this Surah it has been enjoined that the women who
emigrate to <em>dar al-Islam</em> (the Islamic State) and claim to be Muslims,
should be examined hence the title <em>Al-Mumtahinah</em>. The word is
pronounced both as <em>mumtahinah</em> and as <em>mumtahanah</em>, the meaning according
to the first pronunciation being "the Surah which examines", and
according to the second, "the woman who is examined."
</p>
<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>
The Surah deals with two incidents, the time of the occurrence of which
is well known historically. The first relates to Hadrat Hatib bin Abz
Balta'a, who, a little before the conquest of Makkah, had sent a
secret letter to the Quraish chiefs informing them of the Holy
Prophet's intention to attack them. The second relates to the Muslim
women, who had started emigrating from Makkah to Madinah, after the
conclusion of the Truce of Hudaibiyah, and the problem arose whether
they also were to be returned to the disbelievers, like the Muslim men,
according to the conditions of the Truce. The mention of these two
things absolutely determines that this Surah came down during the
interval between the Truce of Hudaibiyah and the Conquest of Makkah.
Besides, there is a third thing also that has been mentioned at the
end of the Surah to the effect; What should the Holy Prophet (upon whom
be Allah's peace) make the women to pledge when they come to take the
oath of allegiance before him as believers?About this part also the
guess is that this too was sent down some time before the conquest of
Makkah, for after this conquest a large number of the Quraish women,
like their men, were going to enter Islam simultaneously and had to be
administered the oath of allegiance collectively.
</p>
<h2>Theme and Topics</h2>
<p>
This Surah has three parts; 
</p>
<p>
The first part consists of vv. 1-9, and the
concluding verse 13 also relates to it. In this strong exception has
been taken to the act of Hadrat Hatib bin Abi Balta'a in that he had
tried to inform the enemy of a very important war secret of the Holy
Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) only for the sake of safe
guarding his family. This would have caused great bloodshed at the
conquest of Makkah had it not been made ineffective in time. It would
have cost the Muslims many precious lives; many of the Quraish would
have been killed, who were to render great services to Islam
afterward; the gains which were to accrue from conquering Makkah
peacefully would have been lost, and all these serious losses would
have resulted only because one of the Muslims had wanted to safeguard
his family from the dangers of war. Administering a severe warning at
this blunder Allah has taught the believers the lesson that no
believer should, under any circumstances and for any motive, have
relations of love and friendship with the disbelievers, who are
actively hostile to Islam, and a believer should refrain from
everything which might be helpful to them in the conflict between
Islam and disbelief. However, there is no harm in dealing kindly and
justly with those disbelievers, who may not be practically engaged in
hostile activities against Islam and persecution of the Muslims. 
</p>
<p>
The
second part consists of vv. 10-11. In this a social problem has been
settled, which was agitating the minds at that time. There were many
Muslim women in Makkah, whose husbands were pagans, but they were
emigrating and reaching Madinah somehow. Likewise, there were many
Muslim men in Madinah, whose wives were pagans and had been left
behind in Makkah. The question arose whether the marriage bond between
them continued to be valid or not. Allah settled this problem for ever,
saying that the pagan husband is not lawful for the Muslim women, nor
the pagan wife lawful for the Muslim husband. This decision leads to
very important legal consequences, which we shall explain in our notes
below. 
</p>
<p>
The third section consists of verse 12, in which the Holy
Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) has been instructed to ask the
women who accept Islam to pledge that they would refrain from the
major evils that were prevalent among the womenfolk of the pre-Islamic
Arab society, and to promise that they would henceforth follow the
ways of goodness which the Messenger of Allah may enjoin.
</p>

